The McNicholas Milestone has endured another outstandingly successful year, and on behalf of the entire Milestone staff, allow me to sincerely thank you. It is thanks to all of our loyal readers and supporters that we are able to remain in publication and continue to provide a genuine production of journalism.

However, we recognize that we aren’t perfect. If you have any suggestions on how we may improve our site for next year, please reach out to me via email or leave a comment on our site. We will also gladly accept article suggestions, as well as any other question, comment, or concern.

With the end of this school year, The Milestone is proud to wish farewell to the graduating Class of 2017 as they launch into their futures, and we are filled with joy to begin welcoming a full new class to Rocket High, the Class of 2021.

The school year is ending, however, so The Milestone is also taking a break, but we look forward to returning in August in full swing, with a fresh staff and new articles to kick off another great year.

Again, thank you for your readership, and have a happy summer!

Nicholas Wynn

Editor-in-Chief of The McNicholas Milestone

Archbishop McNicholas High School

Class of 2018

Filed under: Editorials, News, Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/the-milestone-wishes-all-a-happy-summer/feed/0DSC_0055nicholaswynnDSC_0055May Book Review: Top five book series of summerhttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/may-book-review-top-five-book-series-of-summer/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/may-book-review-top-five-book-series-of-summer/#respondMon, 22 May 2017 14:38:48 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=11062Continue reading →]]>Disclaimer: The following review may contain some spoilers revolving around the plot and background. The review is simply my own opinion; you may disagree.

Summer is coming up fast and a perfect way to distract from the summer heat is to jump into a new book series. The following book series are series I have read that I have really enjoyed. I strongly recommend all of these series, but they will be ranked one to five. One being the highest.

The Maze Runner Trilogy (plus two prequels) by James Dashner

The Maze Runner series is a series that I found to be an incredibly interesting. This series is yet another series focusing on a dystopian world. This series takes place in there nearby future where a deadly solar flare has made most of Earth unlivable, between deserts and swelling oceans. On top of which a deadly virus has been released called the Flare, which drives people nuts to the point of self-mutilation, cannibalism, and extreme violence. The first book starts with the main character of the series named Thomas, who is a teenage boy, trapped in a giant maze with about twenty other teenage boys. The series is incredibly dark, as it contains the deaths of many young children and the reality of how far humanity will go to survive. The reason this series is number five, is that Thomas is an incredibly boring main character. He is mainly a window for the reader to see the events unfolding in front of him. However, almost all of the other characters carry the story very well. The other reason is that the series will drag sometimes. I will admit my favorite of the series is actually the first prequel, the Kill Order. I enjoyed all the world building that went on in the Kill Order. I strongly recommend this series if you are a Hunger Games or Divergent fan, or if you enjoyed the movies. Recommended order: Prequel #1: The Kill Order, #1: The Maze Runner, #2: The Scorch Trials, Prequel #2: The Fever Code, and #3: The Death Cure.

Dorothy Must Die Series (there are 13 books) by Danielle Paige

This series is an interesting modern look at the Wizard of Oz, featuring more of the original book series by L. Frank Baum with a bit of a dark turn. There are four main books in the series currently, they follow the other girl from Kansas, Amy Gumm. Much like Dorothy, she is whisked off to the magical world of Oz. However, there is not a wicked witch terrorizing Oz this time, instead it is Dorothy herself. There is powerful magic in Oz, and such magic appears to corrupt people from the regular world. This is a fascinating series on Oz, which is actually far closer to the original series than many other adaptions. There are nine short prequels on other characters in Oz, which explains their motives. My favorite book in the series is the original Dorothy Must Die; it does a great job of introducing the plot to the reader. The main issue with the series and reason it ends up at number four is that it drags, much like the Maze Runner series. This series is also disturbing, and if you would rather not have your childhood image of the Wizard of Oz ruined, I do not recommend this series. This is a book series for fans of retellings and anything fantastical. Recommended order: #1: Dorothy Must Die, Prequel #1: No Place like Oz, Prequel #2: The Witch Must Burn, Prequel #3: The Wizard Returns, #2: The Wicked Will Rise, Prequel #4: Heart of Tin, Prequel #5: The Straw King, Prequel #6: Ruler of Beasts, #3: Yellow Brick War, Prequel #7: Order of the Wicked, Prequel #8: Dark Side of the Rainbow, Prequel #9: The Queen of Oz, and #4: The End of Oz.

TheJohn Cleaver Series (6 books) by Dan Wells

This is probably one of my favorite series of all times and the only reason it is number three is because of its disturbing topic. The series follows a young man named John Cleaver, who much like the first book’s title suggests (I Am Not a Serial Killer), is a sociopath who knows he is probably destined to become a serial killer. John is desperate to change this fate and does everything in his power to prevent himself from committing inhuman acts. John is a fascinating character and if you are a fan of Hannibal or Dexter, you will probably enjoy him as well. What makes the book so good is that is that John is character that struggles with an internal conflict and an external conflict, in this case another serial killer. This a great series, but sometimes I do wish that the major twist in the middle of the first book, which impacts the rest of the books, hadn’t come straight out of left field. The books can get pretty disturbing, as it depicts many characters dying. I strongly recommend this if you enjoy anti-heroes and psychological mystery thrillers. Recommended order: #1: I Am Not a Serial Killer, #2: Mr. Monster, #3: I Don’t Want to Kill You, #4: The Devil’s Only Friend, #5: Over Your Dead Body, and #6: Nothing Left to Lose.

The Lunar Chronicles (6 books) by Marissa Meyer

Anyone who has previously read my past reviews will know my praise for Ms. Meyer. The Lunar Chronicles is a sci-fi retelling on four of the most famous fairytales every kid is familiar with, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. These fairytales are turned into kick-butt females, Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter, respectfully. I really enjoyed this series because these girls are not the damsels in distress, expect maybe Winter, and because of how creative this world is. For instance when Cinder loses her shoe running from the prince, she doesn’t just lose her shoe, she loses her whole foot. Cinder is a cyborg. The main villain, Levana, is terrifying and amazing well-developed, but I don’t want to spoil anything. This is a great series, my only problem is the sudden shift in perspective in the sequels. It was a real surprise to me, and it almost made me give up the series altogether. Otherwise, I’d strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, retellings, and humor. Recommended order, #1: Cinder, #2: Scarlet, #3: Cress, Prequel #1: Fairest, #4: Winter, and selection of short stories called Stars Above.

Rick Riordan

Why is Rick Riordan the author by himself without his books? Because I have really enjoyed the majority of his work. He has written five series up to this point, and all of them have been critically acclaimed. Most of his work focuses on famous mythology. It has humor, but can also deal with serious topics such as death and family issues. Riordan is also known for being a young adult author who addresses LGBT characters as well as characters of different ethnicities in a serious and respectful way. Rick Riordan is always a joy to read and one of my favorite authors. I would personally start with his first series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I’d strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys young adult series or funny, clever books.

Unfortunately, this is the last book review I will do this school year, but fear not bookworms. The book reviews will continue next year; I’m already looking at some books to review for next August. Until then, all of these book series are available in the McNicholas Library, so go pick one up if you’re looking for a summer read. Do you have a book that you would like me to review? Please suggest it in the comments or send me an email via Ellinore.white@mcnhs.org.

Filed under: Editorials, Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/may-book-review-top-five-book-series-of-summer/feed/0book-review[1]elwhite246Music of the Month: May marks major music milestoneshttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/music-of-the-month-may-marks-major-music-milestones/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/music-of-the-month-may-marks-major-music-milestones/#respondMon, 22 May 2017 14:01:16 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=11017Continue reading →]]>As it’s the end of the school year and the start of summer, May is a popular month for artists to release new music. While many of these tracks may be popular contenders for song of the summer, here are the top five so far.

“Hyperreal” is a pure electronic track with alternative indie influences, falling under a style dubbed future bass. The song is the third time that Flume and KUČKA have collaborated. “I wrote ‘Hyperreal’ after spending the day at the most beautiful waterfall in New Zealand,” KUČKA posted on her Instagram when the track released. “Once again thank you [Flume] for being such an inspiring artist and general human being. This is one of my fav[orite] collabs ever.” The song is about yearning for change and leaving the past in the past. It released on May 5 as a bonus tack to promote Flume’s Skin Companion EP II.

Released on May 4, Niall Horan’s “Slow Hands” is the second single off his upcoming solo debut album. The track veers away from the acoustic style of “This Town,” foreshadowing the diversity of his upcoming work. The pop song has a classic rock influence, starting with a jumpy edge and building on a steady heavy beat. “The whole song was pretty off-the-cuff. I wanted it to be a little bit cheeky with the lyric,” Horan told Sirius XM Hits 1. “Before we even wrote lyrics, we had this big track and it sounded quite sexy. So we thought that this concept would match the vibe of the song, and I think we might have been right.”

Halsey debuted “Eyes Closed” on May 4 as the second track from her upcoming sophomore album hopeless fountain kingdom, due out June 2. “Eyes Closed” rocks Halsey’s typical alternative pop vibe, tinged with some extra electronic influences. The track is about still having feelings for an ex-partner despite being in a new relationship. Showcasing her outstanding vocals, Halsey also released a stripped version of the song to help promote the song and album. Like her debut album Badlands, hopeless fountain kingdom will be a concept album, following a Romeo and Juliet type story of two lovers who change themselves for their love and lose the authenticity of themselves in the process.

“Shelter” by machineheart released on May 5. The track matches the band’s alternative indie vibe while also treading deeper into synth pop territory. The band is new to the music scene, being active only since 2014, and “Shelter” has a chance to be their first major hit. The song is about giving yourself up for someone else and protecting them with your heart, making the song a head-banger with a purpose.

Miley Cyrus’s comeback single “Malibu” dropped on May 11, soon after her May 3 comeback interview with Billboard Magazine, which published on May 13. Cyrus wrote the song about rekindling her romance with fiancé Liam Hemsworth after their 2013 breakup. “I needed to change so much, and changing with someone else not changing like that is too hard. Suddenly, you’re like, ‘I don’t recognize you anymore.’ We had to re-fall for each other,” she said in her Billboard interview. A part of this change for Cyrus was a change in her music style. “Malibu” is a lovely and endearing ode taking on an acoustic pop style, a sharp contrast to the explicit hip-hop sound of her previous 2013 studioalbum Bangerz, a sound that she says she’s felt pushed away from. “Malibu” instead evokes a soft and heartfelt aura, based on the feel of the surfing town that the song is named after. Malibu, located north of Los Angeles, is where Cyrus and Hemsworth own a house together. Cyrus performed “Malibu” on May 21 at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, her first nationally televised performance in nearly two years since her October 2015 Saturday Night Live performances to promote her independently released 2015 album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

Filed under: Editorials]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/22/music-of-the-month-may-marks-major-music-milestones/feed/0malibunicholaswynnhyperrealniall horaneyes closedmachineheartmalibuFidget toys keep the distracted focusedhttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/fidget-toys-keep-the-distracted-focused/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/fidget-toys-keep-the-distracted-focused/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 16:38:13 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10987Continue reading →]]>Lately, the McNicholas community has become inundated with a hot new item, fidget toys. Fidget toys are small desk items simply meant to help people, well, fidget. There are many different types of items, but the most popular are the fidget cube and the fidget spinner. Because of the recent popularity, the question of should fidget toys be allowed in school has arisen.

Fidget toys are made for adults and children with ADHD and autism, among others. Even though fidget toys can be distracting to others, they help those who struggle in focusing or seek comfort in sensory objects. They can even help relieve stress.

In a survey conducted by the McNicholas Milestone, 154 students out of the 291 who took the survey, said yes to school allowing fidget toys. “Fidgets really help kids with ADHD pay attention,” McNicholas senior Kathleen Finn said. “They keep us from playing games,” McNicholas sophomore Christopher Walter pointed out.

“I do think that fidget toys have a purpose to them, but they can’t be disruptive to other kids,” Renee Hendon, department chair of the SAIL program at McNicholas High School, said.

“I think that under certain circumstances they could be allowed in school, but the intention of the fidget was for kids with attention issues…But for kids without attention issues, I don’t think they should be playing around with it, because they’re just using them as a toy,” SAIL teacher Hannah Schwab said

On the other hand, fidget toys have become disruptive in class, “When other people are using the fidget spinners, it just causes a distraction for the other people in class,” McNicholas sophomore Hailey Bell said. “They’re annoying,” McNicholas freshman Ryan Gear said.

“I highly doubt that these toys are actually made for kids with ADHD, it is a marketing ploy that appeals to parent and kids, but in reality it distracts the other kids in class and the person using it,” McNicholas senior Sofia DiGiovanni said.

Fidget toys are helpful to students that actually need them, but for students who want to play with them and distract the rest of the class, it is not appropriate. So, what should we do? Should they be banned or maybe incorporate a policy at school for them?

“I think fidgets are like anything else. If it’s a distraction, the teacher has every right to take it away, that is true of anything,” SAIL teacher Valerie Combs said.

On May 8, the McNicholas Milestone published a survey asking students on their opinion on fidget toys. 53% of students think that fidget toys should be allowed in school, 26% of students think that fidget toys should only be allowed if they are used correctly, and 21% of students do not think that fidget toys should be allowed.

On May 8, the McNicholas Milestone published a survey asking students on their opinion on fidget toys. 69% of students do not own a fidget toy and 31% of students own a fidget toy.

On May 8, the McNicholas Milestone published a survey asking students on their opinion on fidget toys. 37% of students think that fidget toys may cause problems in the classroom, 34% of students do think that fidget toys cause problems in the classroom, and 29% of students do not think that fidget toys cause problems in the classroom.

On May 8, the McNicholas Milestone published a survey asking students on their opinion on fidget toys. 47% of students do not feel they need a fidget toy, 27% of students do not feel they need a fidget toy, but they enjoy them, and 26% of students feel that they do need fidget toys.

Filed under: Editorials, Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/fidget-toys-keep-the-distracted-focused/feed/0fidgetelwhite246Fidget 1Fidget 2Fidget 3Fidget 4Four Reasons to avoid seeing “The Circle”https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/four-reasons-to-avoid-seeing-the-circle/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/four-reasons-to-avoid-seeing-the-circle/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 16:20:03 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10979Continue reading →]]>This month’s movie focus is on The Circle. There are limited spoilers contained and even though this movie wasn’t very satisfactory, you can decide for yourself.

Emma Watson and Tom Hanks star as Mae and Bailey respectively in The Circle which hit theatres on April 28. Mae has just landed a job at a warped version of Google, led by visionary Bailey in a Steve Jobs fashion. Photo from The Circle.

Reason 1: Emma Watson and Tom Hanks have appeared in movies and television shows winning awards for years. The Circle will not win any awards for them. Watson’s acting consists of her staring at computer screens as if suddenly they will answer life’s deepest mysteries, and Hanks job is to look brooding in dark scenes. Their acting is not necessarily the problem, but the way it is applied to the story is not in any way elegant.

Reason 2: This story has been heard before, and done much more brilliantly. The idea of an all- knowing society and the pros and cons of its control has been fleshed out in numerous excellent executions such as “1984” by George Orwell, or even the comedy series “Silicon Valley” on HBO. As a satire comedy, this movie could have succeeded brilliantly, but in its current state of dark brooding cultish themes and generic dialogue, it simply bores.

Reason 3: Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Dave Eggers, book-to-movie adaptations are not always the smoothest of transitions, but the jarring absences of plot connection are clear in the movie. John Boyega plays Ty, a character who has a penchant for speaking in auditoriums and seeming much more important than he actually is. This leaves the impression that the novel used him much more effectively.

Reason 4: Dialogue leaves much to be desired, especially when it comes to confrontation. Arguments are clumsy and feel incomplete at every turn. The main expression of Hanks’ character that is expressed as a maxim is “knowing is good but knowing everything is better.” While this could be transformed into a chilling and paranoia inducing statement, it just ends up being lackluster.

Verdict: With an underdeveloped, but interesting concept, use the ticket money to buy Apollo 13 or The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which are much higher quality films from Tom Hanks and Emma Watson respectively.

Filed under: Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/four-reasons-to-avoid-seeing-the-circle/feed/0PosterpunksdelightPosterTop 5 classic anime everyone should knowhttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/top-5-classic-anime-everyone-should-know/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/top-5-classic-anime-everyone-should-know/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 16:05:12 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10973Continue reading →]]>All countries trade with other countries, imports and exports spreading products throughout the world. The products are not just physical, however, with cultural elements being passed along from person to person. One such example, is anime from Japan, an art style that incorporates either computer generated or hand drawn art to create a video. Similar to American movies and shows, there are classics in the anime culture that anyone would be remiss in not at least knowing the basics. This top 5 list is in no particular order, and not ranked based on importance of viewing. These are all considered essential viewing for anime fans as well as those who aren’t necessarily fans of the genre.

1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Premiering in 1984 and based upon a 1982 manga of the same name, this film was created by a director named Hayao Miyazaki. Following a young princess in a post-apocalyptic world, this movie focuses on the interaction between man and nature. Conflict between rival countries and pre-war technology kick off a massive race to stop the destruction of the home Nausicaa loves. This movie kickstarted Studio Ghibli, a legendary movie producing anime giant of the industry that is featured multiple times on this list alone.
2. Castle in the Sky
Another Studio Ghibli film that debuted in 1986, Castle in the Sky, follows the story of two teenagers, Pazu and Sheeta. The story opens with Sheeta falling from a flying ship in the sky, after pirates have raided it. The magical adventure to find the city of Laputa floating in the sky is both captivating and broad in its potential audience. Like most Studio Ghibli films, there is a focus on man vs. nature, and has a heartwarming resolution. This movie directly followed Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and solidified Miyazaki’s fanbase.
3. Akira
This 1988 sci-fi action film centers on the 2019 city of Neo-Tokyo, while following teens Kaneda and Tetsuo. After a scuffle with a rival gang, Tetsuo has a run in with a psychic and begins to unlock his own abilities. This leads to the revelation that the government has a psychic program and the mystery unwinds from there. With strong animation techniques as well as very comprehensive and artful storytelling, Akira is a must for any sort of movie fan.
4. Death Note
With a live-action adaptation coming to Netflix soon, Death Note has come to the forefront of popular anime yet again. Widely regarded as one of the best anime of all time, this mystery thriller has fans chomping at the bit for more. Light Yagami is a genius high school student who discovers a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written within the notebook, and is shepherded by a god of death known as Ryuk. Experienced anime viewer and president of the anime club, senior Madison Marcum, places Death Note in both her top three of all time and her top recommendation for those who haven’t watched anime before. “It really is just an essential,” she said.
5. Trigun
A brilliant blend of comedy, action, and serious storytelling make Trigun a definite choice for this list. Whimsical and inept Vash travels the wasteland from town to town getting into shenanigans. Vash hides an important secret to the nature of the world he inhabits, and the secret hints that surround him. With a rich story, and very complex characters, Trigun firmly deserves a spot on any top list. At 26 episodes, this classic is on the shorter side, but it packs a punch.

If these shows don’t make the cut for viewing, there is a McNick Anime Club that can always provide students with suggestions and, “a place to come in and hang out, watch a few shows, and meet other people who are fellow [lovers of anime},” Marcum said. The Anime Club hosts Yu Gi Oh card game battles and meets on Tuesdays in Theology teacher Teresa Davis’ room.

From left to right: Ethan Winkfield, Ryan Griffin, Rafferty Houser, Maily Nguyen, Leo Shannon, and Madison Marcum. Nguyen and Winkfield will be co-presidents of Anime Club for the 2017-2018 school year.

Filed under: Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/top-5-classic-anime-everyone-should-know/feed/020170516_152036punksdelight20170516_152036Seniors experience ‘Holi’ during World Religions coursehttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/seniors-experience-holi-during-world-religions-course/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/seniors-experience-holi-during-world-religions-course/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 16:03:18 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10969Continue reading →]]>With the seniors last year at McNicholas coming to an end, they were able to experience the celebration ‘Holi’ in Theology teacher Teresa Davis’s World Religions course.

Holi is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates the spring season and commemorates various events in Hindu mythology. According to religiousfacts.com, Holi is the least religious of Hindu holidays where Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and “get a bit wild.”

“Holi is a celebration of life and remembrance of how many blessings God has given each of us. At the end of the semester, we spread the colors God has made. It gives the students a good time and puts what they have learned to practice. I’ve done the celebration with all of my World Religions classes since I came to McNick,” Davis said.

To be able to participate in the celebration, each student was required to pay $2.50 for his or her colors to throw.

On May 15, the seniors walked up to Penn Station Stadium and threw a variety of colors such as blue, orange, and pink at one another. Senior Emily Browning thought the celebration was a great way to end the course.

“I enjoyed the Holi celebration because our class was able to run around and throw colors at each other. It was a great activity to end the course and school year together as a class,” she said.

Senior Ben Fortin agreed with Browning about the celebration. “It was exciting to learn about the celebration and have the opportunity to actually throw the colors used during the celebration onto my classmates,” he said.

Theology teacher Teresa Davis’s fifth period class poses for a class picture after throwing colors onto one another. The celebration for all classes occurred on May 15.

Filed under: Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/17/seniors-experience-holi-during-world-religions-course/feed/0holispencerschultz13holiFive meals to microwave in the comfort of your college dormhttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/16/dont-starve-five-meals-to-microwave-in-the-comfort-of-your-college-dorm/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/16/dont-starve-five-meals-to-microwave-in-the-comfort-of-your-college-dorm/#respondTue, 16 May 2017 13:44:29 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10940Continue reading →]]>Most of the Class of 2017 will be attending college and living on campus next school year, which means many will be living on their own for the first time. One of the basic struggles of a college student is the food. College campuses have dining halls and restaurants, but there will be times they do not want to leave the dorm due to studying, inclement weather, or just being generally lazy. Therefore, The McNicholas Milestone has created a compilation of meals students can make in the microwave in the comfort of a dorm room with few supplies.

Hair-Straightener Quesadilla

Milestone staff member, Mackenzie Wagner, cooked and tasted the quesadilla at her house. Senior Emily Ferguson was pleasantly surprised. “It tasted like it was made on a stove, it was really good, and I would definitely recommend making it,” Ferguson said.

This dish was also one that the Milestone staff cooked using the café and student union microwaves on May 11. “I was surprised that the lasagna tasted like actual lasagna,” senior David Waterman said. “I was sure that it was not going to work.”

Ingredients:

Microwave-safe cup (or bowl)

2 lasagna pasta sheets

¾ cup of water

1 teaspoon of olive oil

3 tablespoons of pizza sauce

4 tablespoons of ricotta cheese (or any cheese you prefer)

3 tablespoons of spinach

2 tablespoons of uncooked sausage

1 tablespoon of grated cheese

Directions:

Break pasta sheet and put at bottom of the cup.

Cover with water and olive oil.

Cook for 3-4 minutes until pasta is tender, pausing halfway through to stir.

Milestone staff member sophomore Ellie White suggested this dessert as a simple way to make a one serving cookie to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. “I really liked the cookie; it tasted like a fluffy vanilla brownie,” senior Emma Hughes said.

Ingredients/Supplies:

Microwave-safe cup

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon (pinch) salt

1 egg

3 Tablespoons flour

1-2 Tablespoons chocolate chips

Directions:

Microwave butter until it’s melted.

Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt into cup and stir.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Add flour and mix. Add in chocolate chips.

Microwave for 50-60 seconds.

Stick a fork into the middle of the cup and push it to the bottom. Pull out the fork and it should be clean. If not, microwave for another 10-15 seconds.

Enjoy with a glass of milk or scoop of ice cream if you have it!

Filed under: Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/16/dont-starve-five-meals-to-microwave-in-the-comfort-of-your-college-dorm/feed/0supreme lasagnamack2017quesadillomac and cheesesupreme lasagnacookieSeniors share advice for underclassmenhttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/09/seniors-share-advice-for-underclassmen/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/09/seniors-share-advice-for-underclassmen/#respondTue, 09 May 2017 14:13:56 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10930Continue reading →]]>The Class of 2017 is down to their final days of high school. After four years at McNick, students shared their advice for the underclassmen and rising seniors.

The majority of the seniors want the younger students to get involved in school activities. “Get involved in sports, clubs, intramurals,” senior Mackenzie Wagner said. “Go to sports games or theater performances. You’re not going to get anything out of high school if you just come to school at 7:40 and leave everyday at 2:40. Meet new people and make friends that will make memories with you that you will cherish for the rest of your life,” she said.

Vanessa Bayliss agreed with Wagner about school involvement. “Get involved in everything possible; it helps you make friends and you don’t want to miss out on getting to know everyone in your class. Make sure to let yourself be happy. Tests, classes, drama with friends can get overwhelming and stressful but just let yourself enjoy high school. Enjoy time with people and [being] alone; you have to begin to learn who you are/who you want to be. Take time to get to know teachers. As you are spending so much time at school, school events, out with friends, remember to find a balance and spend some time with family. High school is an opportunity for a lot of things, but one of them that isn’t talked about a lot is the opportunity to learn balance. College only increases in difficulty so high school is the time to learn how to juggle school, family, friends, and mental health,” Bayliss said.

Schoolwork is something to keep up with so that you can plan a successful future in college and beyond. “Always keep up with your school work. Balance work and play, and enjoy the present,” Ben Brady said.

Finding your group of friends is another thing seniors think is the key to success. “Make friends, but do not let your friends make you; by the end of high school, you will be a much better person on the inside by doing this,” Matt Lipinski said. “High school is not your highest point in life, so don’t get caught up in doing everything risky now because others are doing it. If you spend time improving yourself and your talents, you will be a better person for the rest of your life; your mind atrophies much slower than your body,” he said.

Lauren Alvarez is very passionate about her peers. “Be kind and make as many friends as you can! There are so many great people around you,” she said.

Overall, the Class of 2017 had a very positive experience at McNick. “McNick is, on whole, a positive place. Let it be positive for you. You are going to change so much, so focus on letting it happen, and noticing the good stuff,” Shelby Scott said.

Ty DeBonis reminds students not to get caught up in drama and enjoy every day.

“Step outside of your comfort zone,” Mandy Woll said. “Opportunities that come up may not seem like they will make an impact on you, but, with a positive attitude, your years here will be memorable,” she said.

On Thursday August 15, 2013, the Class of 2017 walked through the doors of McNick for the first time for tablet training and orientation. On Thursday May 18, 2017, the Class of 2017 will walk out of the same doors after their final exams. Their graduation is Sunday May 21 at 7 pm at the Taft Theatre.

Filed under: Student Life]]>https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/09/seniors-share-advice-for-underclassmen/feed/0seniorsemmahughes17seniorsTrump experiences first 100 days as Presidenthttps://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/09/trump-experiences-first-100-days-as-president/
https://mcnicholasmilestone.com/2017/05/09/trump-experiences-first-100-days-as-president/#respondTue, 09 May 2017 13:56:29 +0000http://mcnicholasmilestone.com/?p=10926Continue reading →]]>100 days are already in the books since President Trump was inaugurated on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C on Jan. 20.

Just four days after becoming President, Trump signed an executive order reviving the Keystone Pipeline that would support 42,000 jobs over two years and 3,900 from construction alone. Obama denied this order during his Presidency in December 2016 according to The New York Times.

On Feb. 10, Trump tweeted claiming the New York Times has major fake news saying, “The failing @nytimes does major FAKE NEWS China story saying ‘Mr.Xi has not spoken to Mr. Trump since Nov.14.’ We spoke at length yesterday!” This started a string of tweets by Trump on Feb. 12, 17, and 24 claiming the media is full of fake news.

On Mar. 2, Trump called for one of the largest military spending increases in history. He proposed to add $54 billion dollars to the Pentagon budget in 2017 according to The New York Times.

On Mar. 6, Trump signed an executive order banning citizens of Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States. Trumps’ original Traven Ban Order included those six countries along with Iraq, but the revised order no longer includes Iraq. The new order continued to impose a 90-day ban and exempts permanent residents and current visa holders. In addition, the order reversed an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria, replacing it with a 120-day freeze that requires review and renewal according to The New York Times.

On Mar. 13, Trump said the Affordable Care Act covers few people, but about 20 million have gained insurance from it.

Under Obamacare, the individual mandate requires all eligible citizens to have health insurance. Current Medicaid funding under Obamacare, is based on a matching system where the federal government guarantees at least $1 for every $1 spent by the state and citizens can only deduct medical expenses if these costs exceed 10% of the household’s gross income.

Under Trump’s Affordable Care Act, the individual mandate is gone. Continuous coverage is the new requirement and if one fails to keep coverage, they will pay 30% more a month. Trump has pushed back the Medicaid expansion offered by Obamacare, which means fewer people will qualify for assistance. People also may be able to deduct the full cost of their health insurance premiums from their federal tax returns according to Trumpcare.

On Mar. 28, Trump declared the beginning of a new era in American energy, production, and job creation in his first move to overrule Obama’s climate change policies. He signed an executive order to revive the coal industry and showed no commitment to curb plant-warming carbon dioxide pollution that Obama had once made according to The New York Times.

On Apr. 7, Trump addressed the reduction in illegal immigration since signing his executive order. “Last month, we saw a 64 percent reduction in illegal immigration on our southern border,” he said in an article in The New York Times. The 64% decline was from Mar. 2016 to Mar. 2017, so Trump’s statement could be misleading as he was talking about a month-to-month decrease.

During his first 90 days as President, Trump signed 28 bills into law. However, he did not sign into law any of the 10 pieces of major legislation in his 100-day plan according to The New York Times.

“It’s a false standard, 100 days, but I have to tell you, I don’t think anybody has done what we did over the 100 days,” Trump said via a White House press release.

President Trump signed an executive order promoting agriculture and rural prosperity in America on Apr. 25. The order included seven sections addressing policy, establishment of the Interagency Task Force, membership, purpose and functions of the task force, report, revocations, and general provisions according to The White House. Photo courtesy of Donald J. Trump.